LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 6
“Life is basically a game.”
Everyone is born into the world holding their own unique hand of cards.
Enoch’s philosophy on life was somewhat similar.
That thought hadn’t really changed since waking up from a troublesome sleep and finding himself in another world.
“We’ve arrived. You can get off now.”
“Ah, sure!”
Racrina followed Enoch as they got out of the car.
The vehicle stopped at a slum built on the boundary between the city outskirts and the wall.
No matter how prosperous the times, there will always be beggars.
Especially in a world where monsters are invading!
The ones buried in adversity and cut off from civilization could be found everywhere, regardless of the world’s divisions.
“Wait a moment.”
-Clink!
Enoch pulled out a cigarette case from his pocket.
Inside were twelve rolled tobacco sticks.
He popped one into his mouth, took out a Zippo, and lit it, taking a long drag.
-Hiss! Whoosh!
“Phew…”
The thick cloud of smoke rose up into the air.
Gray smoke spiraled from the man’s lips, drifting toward the sky.
Racrina felt it was almost like the flames of a beacon.
-Tap tap!
“They’re here.”
You could hear faint footsteps.
Enoch flicked off the ash and turned his gaze.
A group of shadowy figures clad in black appeared.
There seemed to be about twenty of them.
They watched Enoch and Racrina, lurking in the shadows like hawks.
“Welcome! Is this our first meeting?”
Enoch asked, placing the still-burning cigarette back in his mouth.
The reply came swiftly.
“That would be correct, Enoch. You wouldn’t know us.”
“That’s true. But why have you been following us? It looks like you’ve been keeping an eye on us since we were at the Tower division. Do you have a specific reason for being here?”
“I like how quick you are. You’ve hit the nail on the head.”
The spokesperson of the black-clad group stepped forward.
It seemed he was the leader of this bunch.
Curiosity stirred within Enoch about what he might say next.
With a slight nod, Enoch gestured for him to continue.
“I’m glad to see you’re willing to talk.”
The leader smirked before continuing.
“Enoch, we have been watching you for a long time.”
“Oh, so just a couple of months then? That’s quite a dramatic admission for a peeper, don’t you think?”
It had barely been six months since Enoch appeared in this world.
Even if he was being monitored, that timeframe wasn’t exactly lengthy.
As Enoch nailed that point, the leader hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
“…If I’ve offended you, I apologize. But I’d like to ask you, Enoch, what do you see us as?”
“Well, you’re in black outfits and masks. Wouldn’t you be thieves?”
“Wrong. We are those who wish to restore the Empire.”
‘Ah, so they’re separatists.’
The state of the Empire couldn’t exactly be called stable, even as a casual remark.
It was hardly shocking to find revolutionary forces amidst a monster invasion.
“That’s quite the ambition. How is it different from being thieves?”
“Are you seriously asking that? You’ve got to know already that the Empire is to blame for the monster invasion. That’s why we secretly assassinated the mages researching dimensional magic.”
The word ‘assassinate’ made Racrina’s eyes widen.
Enoch remained unfazed and focused on the response.
“Well, that’s your opinion. What I want is mine alone; I don’t get why others interpret it their way.”
“…I see. That’s unfortunate. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean a breakdown of communication. In that sense, I’d like to propose something. Would you hear me out?”
“I’ll listen and make my judgment. Go ahead.”
“Let’s cooperate.”
Cooperate.
The leader pointed his sword at the empty air.
The sword’s tip was directed towards the capital.
“The fact that we assassinated the mages means we harbor some discontent with this country. We’re not so different, you see. Opposites can come together, and if our paths align, what’s stopping us from joining forces?”
“Hmm…”
“Think carefully. While our forces may be fewer than the Empire, that doesn’t mean we’re weak. Besides, you probably have some sort of noble spirit within you as well. We’re always waiting for allies like you. Do not take my proposal lightly.”
It seemed that conversation was at an end, as the leader fell silent.
After a brief sigh, Enoch turned to Racrina.
“Racrina.”
“…Yes?”
“Get out of here. Come back in twenty minutes.”
“……Okay!”
Racrina nodded and slowly retreated.
As the girl’s figure disappeared into the darkness, the leader exhaled deeply.
“So it’s a breakdown of communication. That’s too bad.”
He lowered his sword and signaled to those behind him.
“Let her go without pain. She’s just a poor child born in a ruined country.”
“Yes.”
-Bang!
Some shadows dissipated quickly.
There were probably around two of them.
After confirming their departure, Enoch spoke again.
“To let her go without pain. Is that mercy?”
“In a way, yes. The child has committed no sin.”
“That’s amusing. If you’re going to be merciful, shouldn’t you just let her go without any strings attached?”
“You seem to be rather sharp. Unfortunately, what I’ve learned isn’t the nature of humanity, but the duty of a warrior. When our intentions diverge, that girl will undoubtedly become our enemy one day, whether she grows strong or weak. Showing mercy to an enemy means being harsh to one’s own allies. Do you not understand this simple truth?”
“Truth?”
-Hahaha!!
Enoch suddenly burst into laughter.
The leader, who had been quietly observing, looked visibly annoyed.
“What’s so funny?”
“Ha ha… It’s obvious! That you scoundrels would dare speak of such grand matters. How could I not laugh?”
“What?”
Enoch wiped his eyes and said cheerfully.
“Those who wish to restore the Empire. Revolutionaries. Separatists. Whatever term you use, it all points to you. You probably live believing everything you think is right, don’t you?”
“What are you even trying to say?”
“Just hear me out. Anyway, sure. Your ideology might be right. You could despise the Empire, and there are certainly many people who feel the same. You’ve gathered those rebels and spun your own nonsense. Claiming it’s all for justice and a true empire—am I wrong?”
“That’s not nonsense. That’s our cause.”
The leader said firmly. Enoch scoffed at him.
“You scoundrels can’t even show the smallest bit of kindness saving a fleeing girl, yet you dare to talk about a cause? How can those who know no goodwill ever advocate for a cause?”
Silence descended after that statement.
Claiming to do it for a cause while asserting they are heinous villains.
The leader also seemed at a loss for words, opting to change the subject instead.
“…Enough of this nonsense. How about understanding the current situation? You’re alone, and we’re nearly twenty.”
“That’s not quite accurate. Counting me and a couple of others, most of you are just rabble.”
“Even so, there’s a clear disparity in numbers. You keep provoking us; how about surrendering instead?”
Enoch shook his head at the suggestion.
“Sorry, but apart from time, I’m not really scared of much.”
“Time?”
“Yeah, time. Time is the only thing that has ever threatened me. Everything in this world treats me with kindness, except for time, which strangles me.”
Enoch formed a square with his fingers while grinning.
It was a representation of the status window, the biggest proof that this world used to be a game.
However, to the black-clad faction, it looked like mere low-quality provocation.
-Sigh.
Eventually, the leader took the first action and drew his sword.
“The conversation’s over. Goodbye.”
-Swish
The black-clad figures emerged one by one.
The encirclement was slowly closing in.
Enoch tilted his head and muttered.
“Time… time…”
“What are you muttering about? Is it your last words?”
“No, nothing like that. It’s just… there’s a saying that keeps coming to mind when I think of time.”
“What is it?”
At that moment, a man dropped something into the bushes.
‘…A clock?’
Just as the leader recognized what it was, the dropped clock produced a strange metallic sound.
-Click!
-Riiiiiing!!
The clock burst forth in a brilliant light and shattered into pieces.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
As the fragments separated, they began to merge together, growing in size as they formed a body.
-Hissss!
-Crack!
“…What on earth…?”
The leader stood in shock, witnessing the scene unfolding before him.
It would have been better to swing the sword in that moment.
But he couldn’t do that.
No one could look away from the bizarre sight of an object defying the laws of reality, growing larger and rising up.
-Roar!!!
“…A serpent?”
No, perhaps a dragon.
The leader thought to himself as he beheld the creature that was once a clock.
The massive steel serpent coiled protectively around its master, Enoch.
Enoch, hidden behind the colossal form, leisurely savored the magic he had just completed.
‘Test subject No. 1. Codename: Cyber Dragon. The summoning skill of the player seems to be without issues, just as expected.’
-Roar!!!
The gigantic serpent roared, as if in affirmation.
Chuckling at the white serpent, Enoch turned to address the watching black-clad figures once more.
“So, what was it you said earlier?”
“…”
“Ah, right. Time. We were talking about time.”
As Enoch said that, he rummaged through his pockets.
Numerous accessories, including rings and necklaces, spilled into his hands.
“You may not realize it, but this world is essentially a game.”
-Whoosh!
“In this world where time isn’t on my side, we might actually be puppets controlled by someone’s will. Perhaps the life we believed we were controlling is actually…”
Enoch tilted his head, feeling like he had heard similar words somewhere.
Meanwhile, the accessories thrown by the man began to reshuffle and transform, rising to their feet as well.
This was a skill commonly seen in defense genres.
The power to summon massive monsters to block incoming waves.
What Enoch used was not magic, but rather a “skill.”
-Hiss! Clank!
The steel beasts towered over the black-clad figures.
A serpent, a giant, knights, and a dragon.
Amidst the giants, Enoch lowered a finger.
“…Anyway. I guess it’s time for me to lay down my cards. In the end, that’s what it means.”
Enoch reveals his hand to the world.
Life is just a game.
Let the game begin.